Image communication apparatus and method selectively recording a color or monochrome pattern image in response to received image information

1. A color image recording apparatus comprising: communication means for receiving color image information and an image processing command; control means for controlling said recording apparatus to process the color image information in accordance with the image processing command to provide processed color image information; converting means for converting the processed color image information into monochrome pattern information corresponding to at least one color of the color image information; and recording means for selectively recording each of a color image and a monochrome pattern image, wherein said recording means records a color image in accordance with the processed color image information in case of a color recording mode, and records a monochrome pattern image in accordance with the monochrome pattern information from said converting means in case of a monochrome recording mode.

2. The color recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is any one of an electrophotographic printer, an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, a thermal printer, and a dot impact printer.

3. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color image information includes image information and color region information.

4. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means receives a signal indicative of presence or absence of a color signal.

5. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.

6. A color image recording method comprising the steps of: receiving color image information and an image processing command; controlling said recording method to process the color image information in accordance with the image processing command to provide processed color image information; converting the processed color image information into monochrome pattern information corresponding to at least one color of the color image information; and selectively recording each of a color image in accordance with the processed color image information in case of a color recording mode, and recording a monochrome pattern image in accordance with the monochrome pattern information from said converting step in case of a monochrome recording mode.

7. The color recording method according to claim 6, wherein, in said recording step, any one of an electrophotographic printer, an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, a thermal printer, and a dot impact printer is used.

8. The color image recording method according to claim 6, wherein said color image information includes image information and color region information.

9. The color image recording method according to claim 6, wherein in said receiving step, a signal indicative of presence or absence of a color signal is received.

10. A facsimile apparatus comprising: receiving means for inputting color image information from a transmitting side; converting means for converting the color image information into monochrome pattern information corresponding to at least one color of the color image information; and recording means for recording a color image in accordance with the color image information from said receiving means in case of a color recording mode, and recording a monochrome pattern image in accordance with the monochrome pattern information from said converting means in case of a monochrome recording mode.

11. A recording method of a facsimile apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving color image information from a transmitting side; converting the color image information into monochrome pattern information corresponding to at least one color of the color image information; and recording a color image in accordance with the color image information in said receiving step in case of a color recording mode, and recording a monochrome pattern image in accordance with the monochrome pattern information from said converting means in case of a monochrome recording mode.